It was one of many faces and many alignments. And it was one composed of 15 players, forged by attrition.

For the collection of former draft picks and undrafted free agents, waiver claims and veteran free agents, it was about being greater than the sum of their parts. For head coach Bill Belichick, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and position coach Patrick Graham, on the other hand, it was about being interchangeable.

From Week 1 through Week 17, the New England’s defensive line was just that. But its identity remained unknown. There was no true first-team. There was no true base defense.

Its contributors and alignments shifted with each opponent, with each snap.

Roughly 76 percent of official plays transpired in four-man fronts, with the defensive ends either standing up at a wide seven-technique or putting a hand on the ground, square with the offensive tackles. Another 22 percent of plays transpired in varying forms of three-man fronts, whether it was in a traditional 3-4 with a trio of defensive linemen between the bookends, a nickel or dime defense, or a spread 3-6 linebacker-heavy unit to stop the run. And lastly, one percent of plays transpired in six-man goal line packages, where an expanded surface area was necessary.

Whichever approach New England took to the down and distance, 58 different personnel combinations the byproduct.

Here is a closer look at each one.

New England’s Four-Man Defensive Line Revisited: All 32 Combinations

Discretion is advised when differentiating between the Patriots’ use of four- and three-man lines, as New England’s 4-3 defensive ends have been known to play their share of 3-4 outside linebacker. But even with one defensive end in the seven-technique and the other outside the tight end in the nine-technique, their responsibilities vary but the theme remains the same.

Rob Ninkovich, Joe Vellano, Chris Jones, Chandler Jones – 249 Snaps

After Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly landed on injured reserve, rookies Joe Vellano and Chris Jones joined the starting front four. It was a nucleus that began in Week 4 and rose to full-time duty by Week 6. This group surpassed the snap tally of the Wilfork-Kelly combo by Week 7. It remained the most prominent personnel grouping on the line by season’s end.

Sealver Siliga made his New England premiere in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. And although his first opportunity came as a 3-4 nose tackle, he went on to play 157 snaps with this four-man line over the final four games of the regular season.

Rob Ninkovich, Tommy Kelly, Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones – 80 Snaps

This was the primary defensive line to start the season, prior to Wilfork’s torn Achilles against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

Rob Ninkovich, Joe Vellano, Tommy Kelly, Chandler Jones – 58 Snaps

Vellano filtered in for Wilfork early in the year and immediately replaced him after the season-ending injury.

Rob Ninkovich, Andre Carter, Chris Jones, Chandler Jones – 53 Snaps

Andre Carter re-joined the team and was active to face the Miami Dolphins. From that time forward, he eclipsed rookie Michael Buchanan as the third edge-rusher and also worked simultaneously with Ninkovich and Chandler Jones, who would sugar the A-gaps in some instances.

Rob Ninkovich, Joe Vellano, Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones – 38 Snaps

Vellano provided Tommy Kelly with a breather as the team’s third defensive tackle in September.

Wouldn’t have this many questions OR variables if BB&CREW just pulled the trigger on Dontari Poe like they should have when they had the blatent op & need, by the way……..who & what did they take instead that’s on the chzoppin’ block??
*Between this, the waisted time and pick of Mallet, still having Gronkinjuriski on the roster and knowing All the other glairing needz…………I expect another Division title for BB’s personal belt notch yes, another semi-luck run in the playoffs and another quick out…………sure makes me wish Brady would just get in BB’s grill a little bit and force him to beef up the roster properly so there was an actual fighting chance of a capping a SB WIN before TB12 is gone for good!

What I like about it. Would give us a healthy reliable vet that can contribute. As well as another big body that could help with the run.

What I don’t like about it. Its a short term replacement 1-2 yrs at the potential cost of losing a younger player like Siliga or Armstead. Armstead is exciting but all potential where Siliga seemed to be getting better with each passing week. Also like Chris Jones as a rotational guy.

Oliver Thomas, this breakdown was extrmely informative, thanks! Coming in to 2014 it’s going to come down to who makes the team and year 2 jump on the DL. I’m not going say Wilfolk and Kelly are locks at the position, kind of worried about Wilfolk he is still on the rehab field, i would like to see Siliga, Jones, Armstead, and Easley make the team along with Zach Moore.

Nice work! I can’t say I read through them all, but I’m looking forward even more to the combinations that Pats can put on the field this year, with Easley and hopefully Armstead contributing, and maybe even Zach Moore. One combination would have Chandler, Nink on the ends with Wilfork and Kelley in the middle, with Easley coming in for Wilfork or Kelley, or even Chandler/Nink, on passing downs. Siliga could spell in the interior on running downs. And Armstead if he pans out could come in and fill in in the interior on passing downs. And what if Zach Moore pans out? Then he could really help out spelling Nink/Jones. Once Wilfork and Kelley are done, Siliga, Easley and Armstead key the interior and Nink, Jones and Moore (hopefully) will be the mainstays on the outside.